After driving the wrong way around the roundabout at Douglas Road, he re-entered Happyhillock Road, mounting the pavement and driving across a grass area between blocks of flats.

He then travelled south on Pitkerro Road at approximately 70mph, almost colliding with another vehicle at the Kingsway roundabout. Within minutes he had reached Dens Road going through two red lights and in Strathmore Avenue reached approximately 80mph.

The car then slowed and stopped and the accused was immediately detained. A passenger ran off but was later traced by police.

Sheriff John Rafferty said: “This is the worst section two (dangerous driving) I have ever had to deal with. You could have killed people during various episodes.

“The risk of death was all too real.” He said his age, the fact he had pleaded guilty, was in employment and had expressed remorse had spared him a jail sentence.

He placed the teenager on a community payback order for a year, and a six month restriction of liberty order.

He was banned from driving for four years and ordered to pass the extended driving test.